➡️ 7 Crucial Ways To Keep Kids Reading This Summer

Do you want to keep kids reading books all summer? It doesn’t have to feel like a battle! The goal is to turn reading into something they actually look forward to between trips to the pool or the park (or in the car on the way there or home).

By mixing in a little movement, some hands-on projects, and a fun factor, you can keep those skills sharp without it feeling like extra schoolwork. It’s all about finding those sneaky ways to weave literacy into their everyday summer fun. These ideas are easy to pull off and might just become your favorite new seasonal traditions.

Online Websites/Apps

If this isn’t your jam (which I understand), keep reading for all the other ideas!

IXL

If you haven’t heard of IXL, check it out!

I’ve seen firsthand how much IXL offers for literacy and phonics. It is packed with targeted activities that help kids master those tricky letter sounds and decoding skills in a way that feels like a game. It’s a great way to squeeze in some focused practice while keeping things interactive and engaging. Plus, it’s one of those tools that really grows with them, so they’re always getting just the right amount of challenge!

The Win: Your students feel like they’re in control, but you’ve still guided them toward meaningful practice.

PBS Kids -Reading Games and activities

Let’s keep kids reading with high quality websites like this one! The PBS KIDS website is a total goldmine for early readers, especially because it uses characters they already love like Clifford and characters from the Arthur books. It’s packed with games that make rhyming, letter recognition, and decoding feel like play rather than practice. The site is intuitive, so kids can usually explore on their own without getting frustrated. Plus, since it’s PBS, you can trust the content is high-quality and built on solid literacy research.

Take a look at just some of the options!

Teach Your Monster to Read

Teach Your Monster is a hit with kids because it turns learning to read into a literal quest. Kids create a custom monster and lead it through a magical world, mastering phonics and full sentences as they “level up.” Since it feels like an actual video game, they stay engaged without it feeling like schoolwork. It’s developed with literacy experts to build solid skills, making it a perfect, low-stress way to keep readers confident during the break.

Starfall

Starfall is also a great website. They have their own books (which have paper versions that can be purchased), games and fun activities like animal riddles! Check them out here!

Kids’ Book Clubs

Summer book clubs for kids are one of the absolute best ways to keep kids reading! They are a great weapon against the summer slide because they turn reading into a highly social, fun event. A book club hooks kids using two things they love: hanging out with peers and having a sense of ownership.

The Neighborhood/Friendship Club: A small, parent- or teacher-led group of 4 to 8 peers who meet weekly or bi-weekly. It’s highly social, usually involves snacks, and rotates houses or meets at a local park.

Virtual Book Clubs: For kids who travel a lot during the summer or want to stay in touch with school friends who moved away, brief 20-minute video chat meetups can keep them connected through a shared book.

Summer Programs at Your Local Library Keep Kids Reading

Our local library has a theme each summer and kids who read can earn a wide variety of prizes including a bike! Why not check yours out and see what the childrens’ librarian has been cooking up for the summer.?

Keep reading for more writing ideas!

7 crucial ways to keep kids reading this summer Facebook

The “Page-to-Screen” Duel

Here’s another great way to keep kids reading during the summer. If there is a book that has been adapted into a movie, challenge them to read the book first- with you or you reading it aloud is great, too. Once the final page is done, host a “Movie Premiere” night with popcorn and decorations. Afterward, have a mini-debate comparing the two: was the character like they imagined? Did the movie leave out their favorite part?

A Book Adventure Jar

Write different fun reading “locations” or “styles” on slips of paper and put them in a jar. Every morning, kids can pull one out to determine their reading goal for the day. Ideas include:

Read in a blanket fort with a flashlight.
Read to a pet or a favorite stuffed animal.
Read under a tree at a local park.
Read in your pajamas at noon.
Read a book while wearing a costume of the main character.

Comic Books and Graphic Novels

Comic books and graphic novels are everywhere these days and are so fun kids don’t even think they are reading. Some of my favorite comic books from my childhood such as Calvin and Hobbes and Garfield are popular again, and there are tons of new graphic novels out there, such as Warriors by Erin Hunter! You will be able to keep kids reading and having a blast with books like these!

Reading Bingo

Create a simple bingo card with different genres or challenges in each square (for example, “Read a book about an animal,” “Read a book with a blue cover,” “Read a book to a sibling”). When they get a bingo, they can earn a non-screen reward, like a trip to get ice cream or a “stay up 15 minutes late” pass.

Ready to Go Activities from Teachers Pay Teachers

Sometimes, kids just need a little extra structure to keep their reading momentum going over the break. Or you might need some materials for summer school! That’s why I love this 2nd Grade Summer Packet as a companion to your summer library trips. It targets all those crucial ELA skills—like differentiated rhyming games, antonyms, plural nouns, and creative writing prompts—without feeling overwhelming. It’s a fantastic way to review what they learned this year and ensure they step into the next grade feeling confident.

Click on the cover below to take a peek at it over on TPT.

How The Included Activities Prevent the “Summer Slide”

Provides bite-sized review: Instead of overwhelming a child, it has short bursts of targeted, low-prep review that will help them maintain their skills!
Maintains comprehension skills: Activities focused on predicting, identifying cause and effect, and distinguishing fiction from nonfiction keep those reading muscles working.
Engaging in some writing in the summer: is essential. You don’t want September 1 to be the first day in 10 weeks that your child holds a writing tool! Exposure to editing practice and plural nouns ensures that spelling, grammar, and sentence structure rules don’t fade away over the break.
Bridges the gap between reading and writing: Summer reading is paired with fun writing prompts which ensures students are both reading and writing.

Benefits For Students:

Feels more like play than homework: From poetry and creative writing prompts to exploring reality versus fantasy, it taps into their imagination instead of just drilling facts.
Builds confidence through independence: The pages are designed to be accessible and engaging, giving kids an “I can do this myself” feeling during their break.
Keeps things fresh and varied: Moving between antonyms, plural nouns, and predicting practice means they won’t get bored doing the exact same type of worksheet every day.